Your child’s teeth play an essential role in their development and help them chew and speak properly as they grow up. Eventually, as your child’s permanent teeth make their way in, these baby teeth will act as a placeholder for the permanent teeth, allowing each tooth to emerge in its proper place.
These little teeth are more interesting than you may think—so what are some fun facts about your child’s teeth? We’ve got five of them here for you!
Your Child Is Born With All Their Baby Teeth
Although your child won’t be born with visible teeth, they are born with all their baby teeth already formed. These teeth are hidden beneath the gum tissue and will start erupting when your baby is about six months old, which is also around the time they should have their first dental visit [1]. However, in rare cases, children can be born with one or more teeth!
Baby Teeth Are Completely Unique
Just like fingerprints, your child has their own unique set of teeth. No other child in the world will have teeth exactly like your little one, not even if they have an identical twin, making each person’s smile truly unique and special. In this way, teeth can reveal interesting details about a person’s past, including their age and diet.
Primary Teeth Can Get Decay
As with permanent teeth, primary teeth can get cavities, making it essential to care for your little one’s teeth. As soon as your child has their first tooth, you can start brushing it, and as soon as they have two teeth that touch, you can begin flossing. Keeping your child’s primary teeth healthy will not only help protect the emerging permanent teeth but can set them up for a lifetime of healthy oral care habits.
Children Only Have 20 Teeth Initially
Although adults generally have 32 permanent teeth, your child will only have 20 primary teeth. These teeth don’t include premolars, which won’t come in until your child is 10-12 years old [2]. They also don’t include wisdom teeth, also called third molars, which are the last teeth to emerge between the ages of 17-21.
Tooth Enamel Is Thinner on Baby Teeth
Both baby teeth and permanent teeth have tooth enamel. However, did you know that tooth enamel is actually thinner on your child’s baby teeth [3]? As a result of the enamel being thinner, children are more prone to tooth decay, which makes taking them to the dentist every six months extra important!
Did Any of These Facts Surprise You?
These fun facts highlight the uniqueness of children’s teeth and the importance of oral health in their growth and development. Encouraging good oral hygiene habits from an early age can help your little one have a healthy smile for life!
Sources:
1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/life-stages/babies-and-kids/first-dental-visit-for-baby
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11179-teething-teething-syndrome
3. https://dentistry.uic.edu/news-stories/what-every-parent-needs-to-know-about-baby-
teeth/
